This was SUvCh NUvCh SVCh FC Hound's Kashmir who died at age 14.5, quite apparently in his sleep, three years ago while I was at work. Kasi fathered just two litters before leaving Sweden at the age of five but he is in many, many pedigrees of dachshunds around the world. And he was the father of just one litter after he came to the States, but that litter of seven, my O litter, consisted of seven very talented and highly accomplished dogs.

Thank you, Marie Gadolin - kennel Hound's, for sending me Kasi and his old Scandinavian bloodlines when I needed him most!

10 year old Brita, CIB S Ch N Ch Hound's Rule Britannia, still enjoys shows and was Best in Show Veteran at the dachshund specialty in Drammen, Norway today. The judge was Leif Ragnar Hjorth. Brita is owned, loved and handled by Randi Pettersen.

Just after one a.m. this morning, I sent a very difficult message to Kasi's breeder Marie Gadolin: Kasi is gone. He was dead when I arrived home from work a few minutes ago. He is lying on his side on his blanket in my room. Except that his front legs are stretched out a bit, his position is so normal that I had to look closely, then touch him. My old man is gone. Marie, part of me doesn't believe it, it will take awhile to sink in. He's been ok lately, eating like a horse. I brushed him last night and he really enjoyed it as his skin has been itchy. I stroked him this afternoon before I left for work. He seemed very tired. I wanted you to be the first to know. I'm numb.